Conn mac Cumhaill gazed down from the narrow window of his council room at the market bustling in the bailey below. Behind him, he could hear the crackle of the the druids' fire, and their faint whispers. He did not know what they were talking about, nor did he care. They claimed the fires told of change. Of glory. When he replied that he was old, and care little for glory, the druids claimed they spoke too of danger, and death. War without end. The Lord of Near and Far had spoken, they said, and the High King must heed him or the tribes of Marverni would be scattered and enslaved.
Conn glanced back at the huddled druids, then down to his subjects below him. They were not a warlike people, and had not been since his grandfather's time. The old warrior had united first the clans of the Marverni, and then brought the other four major tribes under their rule. Where there had once been fierce warriors there were now mostly craftsmen. But if the Lord had spoken, they must reclaim their savage ancestry. Torcmór could not be denied. The High King might rule the craftsmen, the warriors, the bards, and even the shifty druids, but he was a pious man and would not defy the Master of Carnutes. If Torcmór ordered the forges of his people to forge swords and axes, they would. Conn would not defy a god.
Troubled as he was by what these conniving priests told him must be done, the High King knew he was only stalling. He turned from the window, and strode back to the circle around the fire. Catching the gaze of the youngest of the druids, the one they had chosen as their spokesman, he spoke strong and clearly. "Your augury has shown the Lord's will. The tribes will prepare for war. I shall call for my sons, and they will march forth before the moon next waxes, druid." The tall figure gazed back with the dull gray eyes of a purebred Eponi, and responded in a soft, sibilant voice. "No need for all your heirs to risk their lives, my liege. Send forth the youngest, and I shall personally guard him from all harm. Let the others stay and prepare the land for war." When his sons later asked him why only Roc would be leading the tribesmen to war, Conn could never quite remember what had convinced him to accept the archdruid's counsel...